https://deltaboogie.net/words/ RSS Feed For Words From The Editor en-us https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Lickin_Goodie_And_Goop.txt 2025-01-07 10:11 AM Posted on 2025-01-07 January 1, 1997 Dear Family, This cookbook was done as a labor of love. My two oldest daughters have grown up and left home. It was a great compliment to me that they would call home and request a recipe for something I cook. When Sarah said, "I wish you would just write them down and send them to me", I decided to start this project. In this book you will find recipies not only from me but from many members of our combined family. A family's history is made up of a lot of different elements but one of these that endures is the food that we enjoyed with each other. Please help make this an ongoing family project and send recipies from your files and from your parents, grandparents, etc. Send stories about the food, the people who cooked it, and the time of fellowship where families gathered together to share it's nourishment. Vivian Heyl https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Gary_Sloan_On_Delta_Musicians.txt 2024-08-21 11:15 AM Posted on 2024-08-21 Vivian posted this in the Delta Musicians section of Delta Boogie. The discography is not complete. The prices are for historical reference only. This is Vivian's post from back in the day. I will be updating Gary's page on Delta Musicians. Gary "Alaska" Sloan "Alaska Slim" Gary Sloan Born June 28, 1945 Los Angeles California. Currently living in Diamond City, Arkansas BIO Gary arrived in Alaska in 1964 and stayed until 1995. He had sung in church and school choir, so it wasn't much of a stretch to become the animated lead singer of a Top 40 band. Gary Performing at King Biscuit in 1996 A year later, upon hearing the first Butterfield and Musselwhite albums, he picked up the harp and added blues to the mix. By the next year all other types of music was dropped and "Proof" became the only Alaskan blues band. When Jimmy Reed died, Gary called JOHN LEE HOOKER at home and brought him up to tour the state. By this time (1971) Lindy Raines had been lead guitarist for several years. John told them a harmonica player was sleeping on his couch and needed work: CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE, who was the next to tour with the band. Word of mouth from those two spread and in the next 20 years Gary and Lindy would tour with BO DIDDLEY twice, HOOKER 2 more times as well as JIMMY ROGERS, PHILLIP WALKER, SLEEPY LaBEEF, ELVIN BISHOP, ANGELA STREHLI and many others. Some artists, such as MARIA MULDAR, ELVIN BISHOP and CHUCK BERRY would borrow the band (or members of it) from time to time as well. Band & Musical History HARVEY MANDEL and ABU TALIB (FREDDY ROBINSON) play guitar on two of Garys CDs ("BLUE SHOES" and "SKULL"). The band name changed to "Southside Blues" and Larry Raines would join or alternate with his brother on lead guitar. An out-of-print vinyl LP of that name was released in 1980. It was re-pressed and more cassettes made a year later. Two cassette only albums were released in 1984 and 1986. In 1992 the first CD "Blue Shoes" was released, and in 1996 portions were rerecorded for the re-pressing, making it also the most recent addition. In 1994 the live "SKULL" was released, followed in 1995 by "Dedicated to Binky ", a collection of Alaskan blues songs. Garys first two albums (with "Proof" in 1969 and 1971) have fetched up to $400.00 from european collectors, as they were limited and long out-of-print. Awards In 1995 upon moving to Arkansas, he came to Jonesboro to see Blues Fest and ended up playing with AARON LOVE and HAIRY LARRY. When going to see the King Biscuit Festival he entered the blues competition and won first place (he asked the band on before him to stay and back him: only the drummer and guitarist did). He came back the following year and won first place again for the Sonny Boy Blues Society as well as in Little Rock: Three first place showings in less then a year got him spots on the King Biscuit Festival, Riverfest and the Eureka Springs Blues Festival. Members of his current band are Bill Trumbauer, drums; Curt Rosy, electric & acoustic bass; Mike Elrod, electric & acoustic guitar. Achievements Gary has jammed with MUDDY WATERS, JOHN MAYALL, JORMA KAUOKENEN, JOHN CIPOLLINA, JAMES COTTON & band, LUTHER 'GUITAR JR' JOHNSON & band, WYNTON MARSALIS Band, REESE WYNANS, LEE OSKAR, NORTON BUFFALO, ELVIN BISHOP, BILLY PRESTON, JOHN WESTON, LAZY LESTER, BRODY BUSTER, KINGFISH (with DAVE TORBERT & BOB WIER) and N.R.P.S. (with JERRY GARCIA) among others. Gary organized two tours (with a horn section) for WOLFMAN JACK revues in 1989 and 1992, backing FREDDY CANNON, DEL SHANNON, COASTERS, DRIFTERS, PLATTERS, TOKENS, SHIRELLES, MARY WELLES, BO DIDDLEY and LITTLE ANTHONY as well as the WOLFMAN himself. He was featured in a Maxwell House coffee ad in 1994 playing, of all things, a harmonica player! In November 1996 he went to Belgrade, Serbia to headline a blues festival (Jr. Wells headlined the first night, Gary the second), tour Yugoslavia and produce a CD by the band that backed him 'RAWHIDE". He returned in April 1997 to tour to support that CD. This took him to cities that no American had ever visited and happened in between the two wars. He still keeps in contact with his friends there via e-mail. Discography CDs $15, Cassettes $10 plus $1.50 per order ($3.00 international) for shipping and handling CD only: "BLUE SHOES' (features HARVEY MANDEL, ABU TALIB and the RAINES BROTHERS) CD only:"SKULL" (live) (features HARVEY, ABU, LINDY RAINES and RICK HOLMSTROM) CD and cassette: "DEDICATED TO BINKY" (Alaska blues novelty songs) cassette only: "ALASKA SLIM LIVE: ARKANSAS TO YUGOSLAVIA" (at King Biscuit with LINDY RAINES and Belgrade Bluesfest with RAWHIDE) https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Heavy_snowfalls_could_be_effect_of_global_warming.txt 2024-07-10 03:56 PM Posted on 2024-07-10 Heavy snowfalls could be effect of ‘global warming’ By Vivian Heyl When scientists first began using the term “global warming” to describe the effects of greenhouse gases on the environment many interpreted this as strictly relating to how warm the air was going to be. One of the most frequently asked questions is “How can there be global warming when it’s this cold?” Scientists now often refer to the effects of global warming with the more precise term “climate change,” which more aptly describes how greenhouse gases are affecting the planet. The melting of the polar ice caps are good indications for the warming of our planet. Even though most of the surface air has warmed by only a degree over the past century, surface air over the polar caps has warmed by almost four degrees. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the increase in temperature causes a rise in ocean levels as polar ice melts. The rising ocean levels increase the moisture in the air. More water vapor in the air has led to an increase in precipitation in the northern hemisphere, which has resulted in record rain and snow events. Scientists predicted that warmer air holding larger amounts of water vapor would lead to more severe weather. The last decade has been marked by record-setting rainfall and snow events. Last year’s January ice storm was the result of waves of warm moisturebearing air moving up from the Gulf of Mexico encountering surface air chilled by an Arctic front. This led to one of the worst ice storms on record for Northeast Arkansas. NOAA reports that the southern United States has had an 11.6 percent increase in precipitation since 1900. This is a significant increase according to the agency. The United States Environmental Protection Agency said on its website that NOAA’s report is consistent with the simulations that predict an increase in precipitation due to human-induced warming (the burning of fossil fuels and other practices which result in greenhouse gas emissions). Dr. Jeff Masters, a meteorologist and co-founder of the website Weather Underground, said there are only two things needed for a record-setting snowstorm: a record amount of moisture in the air (or a very slow moving storm) and temperatures cold enough to produce snow. It doesn’t have to be record-setting cold temperatures to produce record-setting snow but the moisture has to be present. This year’s winter storms continue to support the climate change stance of scientists and environmentalists. Record nationwide snowfall has been reported over the last two weeks with locally heavy amounts exceeding 10 inches in Lawrence County and a record one-day snowfall set in Craighead County. With yet another possibility of frozen precipitation later in the week the predictions by meteorologic experts of an increasing number of snowstorm events caused by large amounts of moisture in the atmosphere may be proved to be dead on. --- Originally published in The Times Dispatch on February 10, 2010. https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=What_A_Year.txt 2024-07-10 03:43 PM Posted on 2024-07-10 What a year By Vivian Heyl What a year this has been. Looking back it seems to have been one earthshaking event following another with very little respite in between. Starting in January with “Arab Spring” which began with Egyptian citizens protesting in Tahir Square and the eventual ouster of President Hosni Mubarat, cries for freedom from tyranny spread rapidly to other countries as the year progressed. In March Japan experienced a magnitude 9 earthquake, one of the most devastating and powerful earthquakes on record. The quake generated 133-feet-high tsunami waves that laid waste to most of the eastern coastal region. In addition the tsunami also caused meltdowns in three reactors, which resulted in contamination to surrounding land and sea areas. Nearly 16,000 people died in the disaster, thousands were injured and thousands are still missing. Navy Seals took the life of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in May. Bin Laden’s death was pronounced a closure for all those who were affected by the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. In early August the debt ceiling crisis arrived. Though it had been knocking on our door for several years it still hit with a force that sent us reeling. From foreclosures to bailouts of those too big to fail corporations our economy tanked with such force that the reverberations traveled the globe and the resulting chaos is still sending shockwaves of economic distress around the world. The Occupy Wall Street movement began quietly in September but as the movement grew those who were occupying and those who were against the occupation became more and more vocal. The end of the Iraq War has been very quiet. Fears are great that Iraq will descend into civil warfare between the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. In December as thousands of military personnel travel home there is both joy and fear. The anxiety of reentering a job market that is sluggish at best is yet another challenge these tired warriors must face. The recent death of Kim Jong Il, who has ruled North Korea for the last 17 years, has brought more uncertainty to a world that seems to be forever teetering on an uncertain precipice. Governments wait anxiously to see how this latest turn of events plays out on the both economic and political fronts with hopes that tensions will not escalate once again. Is there any good news then? Well yes, there is. A lack of tolerance for inequality has become a dominant theme around the globe. There is a small burgeoning hope that oppression, tyranny, persecution and corruption can be conquered. Global markets are showing signs of recovery. It’s too soon to shout from the rooftops, but there is some hope that the light at the end of the tunnel is not a train. U.S. unemployment rates are falling with the sharpest decline reported in November when the jobless rate fell to 8.6 percent. Nine months after the devastating events in Japan the landscape looks barren along the eastern coastline. Much of the debris has been removed and there is a sense that recovery and progress is being made. Our soldiers have taken down the U.S. flag in Iraq and brought it home. After nine years of war, it’s over. There has been no fanfare, no parades, no bands playing, yet even in the quietness there is a sense of joy in having them back. This is a year many will not regret seeing end, though others will celebrate victories and newfound freedoms. How we measure it depends on the yardstick used. December 31 will come and a new year will begin at midnight with all the hopes and fears of an unknown future. Let our hearts be glad that we have the chance to make it wonderful. --- Originally published in The Times Dispatch on December 21, 2011. https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Game_Teaches_Life_Lessons.txt 2024-07-09 09:33 PM Posted on 2024-07-09 Game teaches life lessons Reported in The Times Dispatch on July 15, 2015 in a column titled, Times Dispatch wins awards. Vivian Heyl won a first place in the (Arkansas Press Awards) General Interest Column category. Vivian’s winning column was titled “Game teaches life lessons.” Judges commented, “Great analogy. Fantastic storyteller.” --- Game teaches life lessons By Vivian Heyl I enjoy playing solitaire. It’s a complex game that has taught me a great deal about life. There’s something about moving those 52 cards round till they finally become a neatly organized stack that makes me happy. I remember playing with cards when I was very young. Sitting at the kitchen table I would take the deck of jumbled cards and begin to rearrange them. I was rescuing them from chaos and I felt sure that once I could get them all back to their own families they would be happy. At that early age I was completely convinced that the heart, diamond, club and spade families should all be together and it was my responsibility to help them. As I grew older my parents began to teach me about the cards. The idea of a hierarchy was baffling at first, but I soon began to get the idea. I thought the kings, queens and jacks looked pretty spiffy but the aces weren’t too shabby either. I also learned cards have some pretty weird names. For instance a two is called a deuce, and a three is a trey and sometimes the five is also a fiver. There are one-eyed jacks and kings and painted ladies and a special card known as the joker. The joker is the odd man out in the deck. Disdained by many and coveted by some, the joker plays a complex role in the world of cards. I was probably six before I began playing solitaire with any real understanding of how it all worked. I learned that I couldn’t just rearrange the cards however I saw fit. There were rules that had to be followed and even though I thought some of them were pretty iffy, I did my best. My favorite game is sometimes called patience, but it is most commonly known as Russian solitaire. It is a game that is played by placing the cards by suit in downward columns from the king to the ace. The object, however, is to stack them on the pile from the ace to the king. There’s that hierarchy thing again. There is still a sense of achievement all these years later when the cards all line up by family. Though it isn’t much to crow about it improves my mood each time it happens. I said earlier that solitaire taught me a great deal about life. There is something about this game that clears my mind and helps me to think about my choices, what I should do to solve a problem or organize my day. Solitaire represents a lot of life’s experiences or at least that’s the way I see it. When the cards are first dealt they are willie-nillie, all over the place. When I was much younger I often indulged in a flurry of card moving, quickly rearranging them from one pile to another in an attempt to bring order to the deck. This often resulted in an abrupt end to the game. The truth is making decisions without thought usually leads to a dead end. Unless you are willing to cheat, no more moves means the game is over. By the time I had reached my teens I’d decided to actually put some thought into the moves. I looked at where the move would take me and what options it opened up. I eventually learned to play the game forward in my mind weighing one option against another. Then I would decide which moves would result in the most chances for success. Even when I carefully planned my moves it didn’t mean I would win. Sometimes the dead end is there even though it isn’t visible yet. When there was nowhere else to go I had to start over once again. Somewhere in there I began to learn what the game teaches. It teaches patience, that not every choice will be the right choice and it’s okay to reshuffle and start again. I have won a few hands of solitaire in my life, but I have lost a whole lot more. Though I loved winning I found out the losses were more frequent. Playing solitaire taught me that in every loss there are some lucky moves and that every win takes more than a little bit of luck. --- Originally published in The Times Dispatch on April 9, 2014. https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Taking_Chances.txt 2024-07-09 09:32 PM Posted on 2024-07-09 Taking chances By Vivian Heyl My husband, Larry, and I spent many years of our lives running a computer business. He has a degree in computer science and developed applications for businesses to meet their specific needs. He also helped them put procedures into place that would help each business get the most benefit from the applications he had written. I have a degree in English. I helped with many aspects of the computer business including customer support and training. During the initial installation of any new software we would have a training class for the staff. He would explain how the new program worked and the procedures that were needed for it to run accurately. Then I would explain to them what he had just said. Words are funny things. No matter how exact we think we have expressed something, someone will always misunderstand or misinterpret what we have said. Larry explains it this way. Tell the class when the opening screen comes up there will be two choices, yes or no, always press yes. Have them practice it more than once. The next day when the screen comes up half the class will press yes and half will press no. As human beings, rationalization is an important part of our intellectual process. If we don’t know or remember the answer we will try to rationalize what the correct response is. If there are only two responses offered, which one is the safest? It is my conjecture that those who hit no at the opening screen have determined that this is the safest answer. If we’re not sure what is going to happen if we hit yes then maybe it is not a good idea to choose it. Choosing yes seems to be a challenge for many people. Life is full of missed opportunities because we pressed no when we should have pressed yes. If we never give yes a chance how will we learn what more life has to offer us? Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” was standard fare for English classes as I traveled through my school years. This closing stanza explains choices the best. “Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” This poem speaks to me about my own difficulties with taking chances. When I have two choices I will most likely take the one that seems safest, with the most likelihood of succeeding, but I will never know what would have happened had I taken a chance on the other one. I’ve made a few attempts at adventuring, but taking paths that have twists and turns and occasional obstructions is not comfortable for me. I like to know where I am going and how I’m getting there. Those few attempts, however, were enough to teach me that sometimes twists and turns can provide exciting opportunities that I would have otherwise missed out on and the occasional obstructions gave me a chance to learn and grow. No matter what that old adage says, you are never too old to learn. Making choices is built into our everyday life. We can’t escape them so let’s embrace them. The next time the screen comes up and says, yes or no, press yes and let’s see what happens. --- Originally published in The Times Dispatch on June 25, 2014. https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Being_a_parent_is_a_tough_job.txt 2024-07-09 09:31 PM Posted on 2024-07-09 Being a parent is a tough job By Vivian Heyl For over 40 years I have raised children, some were mine and some were the children of other people. Parenting is a tough job. Those who think it isn't aren't doing it right. Recently I told a young mother who is a first-time parent that babies are like sponges, they absorb everything, even those things they are too young to understand. She talks to her baby in a way that many parents have never tried. She has conversations with him. She explains what things are and what she is going to do with those things. Though her son doesn't comprehend all that she says, he knows she is talking to him and showing or giving him things to examine as she talks. Recently she was shopping in a grocery store with her baby and as she shopped she told him about the objects she was adding to the shopping cart. She picked up an onion and allowed him to hold it. She told him it was called an onion, she talked about the onion's color and what the onion would be used for. She suddenly realized that people were giving her strange looks. She has talked to him and explained things since he was born. At first she just shrugged it off but said she is beginning to feel intimidated by the stares when she talks to her child in public. When I told her that it was perfectly fine and even good to talk to her child in this way, she asked how she should react to the strange looks she gets when she is out in the public. I am a person who takes parenting very seriously. I believe it is the most important job anyone could ever have. I have been known to go on a rant when the subject comes up. In fact some might even say I get on a soapbox about it now and then. The following was my response to her. Maybe it was the first time they had ever seen a parent who actually parents. Parenting is not easy. It's the most important job in your life. There are no job descriptions, no paid vacations, the hours are long, and there is no retirement. The pay, however, is outstanding and it has job benefits beyond your wildest dreams. There are smiles, hugs, sticky kisses, endless questions, hastily plucked bouquets, and much more. Your child's complete faith in your ability to make everything that's wrong right may give you anxiety over being a superhero, but aren't you? So don't worry about strange looks. What you are doing is a positive example for others on how to be a parent. Carry on being a shining example. She said thanks. --- Originally published in The Times Dispatch on May 21, 2014. https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Brunhilda_Jotan.txt 2024-07-08 12:08 PM Posted on 2024-07-08 Character Name Brunhilda Jotan Height 5' 10” Weight 200 lbs Butcher She has blond hair plaited in a single braid down her back tied with leather and blue eyes. She wears a long blue tunic and leather leggings that are a little shabby. When she is working she wears a heavy leather apron that covers her from her chest to just below her knees. She wears boots with leather soles and made of a tanned leather and knitted wool knotted with leather laces. https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Vivians Quest - The Kendrick Campaign.txt 2024-05-07 08:26 PM Posted on 2024-05-07 Vivian ran a family game in the nineties which ended with a focus on the NPC arch wizard, Kendrick, who got stuck in all of our minds. This is her DM book for that campaign which includes contributions from all of us. All of the players in that game now run family games and games at game days and conventions. I think she taught us all how to do it. -LH https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Role_Playing_With_Vivian.txt 2024-05-04 08:01 AM Posted on 2024-05-04 Scanning in Vivian's DM Campaign Book from the early 90s and I found this DnD guy. --- The general area around Tobbins Shire is called The Glen. The Muffens tend towards rotund, even for halflings. You might even say round as a bowling ball. They are very competitive eating pumpkins. Things we learned playing family game last Saturday. --- I am Edgar O. Ogre! --- Tea too! Arimeth was working with the Milyagon Witch, both herbalists, and they came up with a far seeing tea that gave you telescopic vision. She also brewed a tea that countered a fog spell created by Mr. Mistmeister. Just like a bard casts spells with music herbalists cast spells with mushrooms and herbs. Healing spells are obvious but why stop there? --- Prepping for my Just Quest sandbox family game. The quest starts in a tavern named The Sign Of The Golden Elk. The sign hanging in front of the tavern says The Sign Of The Golden Elk. So it's the sign of The Sign Of The Golden Elk. But what is the sign of the golden elk? Droppings. They're gold in color but really they're just elk poop. And what is the Golden Elk? It's a mythical beast, like a Unicorn. It's a large male elk with golden horns. They're not actually gold, just gold in color. And where is The Sign Of The Golden Elk tavern. It's in a village called Elk Trails, north of Milyagon and Tobbins Shire, a stopping off point for hunters, trappers, and adventurers. The population of Elk Trails is primarily dwarves but all races are common and this is in the north so occasionally monsters wander in too. They are tolerated as long as they don't cause trouble. And what is the party discussing? Previously the Ghost Of The Oracle mentioned The Queen Of Desperation. They are trying to figure out what this prognostication means and what they should do about it. The Ghost Of The Oracle is an NPPC, a non playing player character. --- Prognostications of the Ghost Of The Oracle. The Queen Of Desperation Mr. BB Much much much Beds Don't be noisy Kettle down Lazy Aces (AZs?) A wind is coming Pizza pooch 94, A brat without a broach Find the cream Mr. Baylor will never push you away Left in the water fountain Don't talk before it Oracle in danger Sleep Santa to ploo ploo pie Take it when it gets here Lights under but not over She bunny As noted by Shuba, Listenherebub, and the DM on 2024-03-16 except the first pronostication was pre game. --- The Ghost Of The Oracle Quest Cast March 16, 2024 The Party --- Name - Class - Traits Thokk - Fighter - barbarian, friendly Thistle - Elf - confident, interior decorator Listenherebub - Wizard - athletic, grounded Echo - Rogue - flexable Elder Yawn - Wizard - old, wize Shuba - Halfling, tiny, dancer NPPC (Non Playing Player Character) --- The Ghost Of The Oracle NPCs --- Barton - Dwarf - The Bartender at The Sign Of The Golden Elk dresses sharp and is quick with orders. Occasional conversation with patrons passes the time. A family man, at home he makes tables and shelves which he sells as a side business. Grogloc - Dwarf - The Mayor of Elk Trails is loud and bumptious, always bragging and promoting the village. This could be his nature or it could be because of his substantial real estate investment. Most think it's both. AA - Dwarf - Coproprietor of the Red Devil Emporium. Large for a dwarf and efficient with the inventory. CC - Dwarf - Coproprietor of the Red Devil Emporium. Small for a dwarf and develops good rapport with the customers. Does an amazing thing by knowing what customers want before they ask for it. Mr. BB - Human - Former proprietor of the Red Devil Emporium. Wealthy. Known to tilt at windmills. Last seen following the sign of The Golden Elk. Gladiola - Wizard - The Golden Elk Herbalist is a healing witch that cures with herbs and spells. She does a booming business in healing potions but is sometimes short on supply causing a wait for a day or two. YoYo Longstring - human - Manager at the Dolphin Inn. Gregarious and helpful. Takes the evening shift and sleeps on premises. In the mornings he hikes in the hills and draws in a sketch pad but that doesn't stop the whispers. Little Red Riding Hood - human - Loves to sing and if she's encouraged she will sing "Dawn Is Coming Soon". Speaking Animals And Monsters --- The bugbear once met the Golden Elk and if he gets drunk enough he'll go on and on telling unreliable stories about him. The March Hare is a source for specialty teas. Gladiola vouches for their efficacy. The wolf is Little Red Riding Hoods pet. After she gets on top of the bed sometimes the wolf climbs in with her for shared warmth. --- The Ghost Of The Oracle Quest Session notes March 16, 2024 The party gathered at The Sign Of The Golden Elk to discuss the meaning of Queen of Desperation, a recent prognostication of The Ghost Of The Oracle. Thokk wanted to go talk to the Mayor to see if they were desperate about something. He called Barton the bartender over to ask where to find the Mayor. The Ghost Of The Oracle said something about Mr. BB. The party went to talk to Grogloc, the Mayor. When asked if they were desperate he said with a lot of bluster that they were Dwarves. They had a mine. And they had plenty of gold. If the party wanted to help him they could spend their money in town, at the Inn, the taverns, and the Red Devil Emporium. Then he burst into a favorite dwarven song, Gold, Gold , Gold, Gold. When asked, Grogloc said he had not heard of Mr. BB but he knew AA and CC, two dwarves who ran the Red Devil Emporium. The party visited The Red Devil Emporium to find out about Mr. BB and to shop. AA and CC were behind the counter. They said they never heard of Mr. BB. Everybody shopped for stuff including a kettle because the Oracle had said Kettle Down. Elder Yawn bought some pipeweed from Hill Shire. They also wanted some herbs and potions the emporium didn't have. So AA and CC sent them to the herbalist. At the Golden Elk Herbalist they met Gladiola, a human healing witch. She sold Elderly Yawn some Pineapple Sticchi Icchi (the good stuff). And she sold Listenherebub a slightly larger bag of Gladiola's Special Blend recommended for anxiety. When Gladiola heard them talking about The Queen Of Desperation she went and got a small golden (colored) statue from her trinkets shelf and sold it to Thistle, the elf. The Ghost Of The Oracle spoke of light under but not over and she also mentioned beds so they thought they might need to check under the beds at the Inn. The herbalist sent them on to Dolphin Inn, a small establishment with rooms, a restaurant, and a larger function room. The innkeep doubled his income by letting monsters sleep under the beds with people sleeping on top. In front of the Dolphin Inn was a fountain with pennies in the pool and a sculpture of a dolphin dancing on it's tail and spraying water straight up into the air. The Oracle had said, "Left in the water fountain" and Shuba, the halfling dancer couldn't find anything left in the pond except pennies so she climbed right in to neck deep water (for a small halfling) and started dancing while circling left. The mayor and other townsfolk came out and clapped and threw pennies into the pond. As she spun faster the dolphin blew harder and soon everyone was soaking wet. They went into the Inn and Thokk started to check under the beds and found a giant shrew comfortably sleeping. After carefully replacing the bed he was intercepted by YoYo Longstring, the inn manager, who said they could only check rooms that were vacant of on the bed customers. In the 4 remaining vacant rooms he found a Bugbear, a Corpse Crawler, a Wolf, and a Cobra. Shuba, the Tiny Dancer, danced with the Bugbear and the Cobra. The Cobra climbed out of his basket so high that he hit his head on the ceiling and knocked himself out. Since his basket was about the same size as the kettle they bought from the emporium they transferred the cobra to the kettle and Shuba strapped it to her backpack. By now, it was getting late and everyone was ready to party. They rented the function room and everybody came. The mayor, Grokloc, AA and CC, Gladiola, The wolf, Little Red Riding Hood, the Bugbear, the March Hare, and the Cobra in his kettle. Even the corpse crawler shuffled in and scooted under the drinks table with the dead sailors (empty beer bottles). They all ate pie and had a big old time drinking ale and smoking pipeweed. In fact Listenherebub got so relaxed that he climbed right out of his chest of drawers and showed off his muscles wearing only body building shorts. He said he didn't need more clothes while he was in the chest of drawers. --- High Eyrie by Larry Heyl There once was a maid so fair With bright blue eyes and flaxen hair Who crept into a dragon's lair And found an egg just laying there. Now she rides between the wings Of a giant red while she sings Sail son, Sail on To High Eyrie. --- Discuss High Eyrie here. https://gamerplus.org/notes/9suulhhdb8pmjrcp When I worked on this song I was back and forth with Vivian about every word. --- Ari and Caper campaigned together for over 30 years. In our last campaign together Ari was an herbalist and healing witch who sometimes worked together with the Milyagon Witch. Her pet mountain lion, Tude, found a book written in wikkenscratch, a combination shorthand and code witches used to remember their recipes. Caper, a halfling bard, was her trusty sidekick, a DM PC. Here's a link to Milyagon Adventures. https://hairylarryland.com/milyagon/ Vivian helped me write all the Milyagon Minizines including the Just Quest RPG game. After our last Ari and Caper campaign I wrote "The Story Of Mister Mistmeister And His Many Transformations" based on our adventure. As well as playing the major character in the quest Vivian helped me write the story. You can find links to "The Story Of Mister Mistmeister And His Many Transformations " and the Milyagon Minizines at the link above. https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Vivian_Said.txt 2024-05-03 02:30 PM Posted on 2024-05-03 But we still know In the minds that we found That if we get there We'll still be around. Vivian Heyl - October 3, 2023 --- I'm looking for Bad Boobla Habba. --- Vivian's lyric for the day. If I were you Which I'm glad I'm not --- Here's a good song lyric. I know what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna stay with you. -LH --- Wanna play a game? I'll say something and you reply. You can't say the same thing. And it has to make some kind of nonsense. Continue back and forth. We enjoyed that. -LH --- Isn't it funny how money doesn't fool anybody. - Viv --- I'm not a one person family. -Viv --- Wise guys in disguise are hiding from the truth. (There's got to be more) -LH --- When do you want to go to Valley Vo? --- What yeah, yeah what? What yeah yeah yeah Yeah what? Chicken butt. --- Music is a lifetime commitment to figuring out how to get great gear when you're poor. -LH --- Being a jazz and blues DJ is a lifetime commitment to being hip. -LH --- There's nothing in the world I would rather do than be with you. --- A lyric or a poem. Dawn Is Coming Soon by Larry Heyl, copyright 2024, CC BY I can't get around if it's not brown Down among the weeds where the seeds split the dirt. Under the ground where the roots suck water The elf king's daughter sings without a sound. Willow trees sway in the wind all day At night swallows sleep with nary a peep. The elf king's daughter dances under the moon while the owls hoot hoot, "Dawn is coming soon." -LH inspired by Vivian --- The tracks and the crown are just giving the sound and it's the message. The Ghost Of The Oracle --- The Ghost Of The Oracle Quest Session notes March 16, 2024 The party gathered at The Sign Of The Golden Elk to discuss the meaning of Queen of Desperation, a recent prognostication of The Ghost Of The Oracle. Thokk wanted to go talk to the Mayor to see if they were desperate about something. He called Barton the bartender over to ask where to find the Mayor. The Ghost Of The Oracle said something about Mr. BB. The party went to talk to Grogloc, the Mayor. When asked if they were desperate he said with a lot of bluster that they were Dwarves. They had a mine. And they had plenty of gold. If the party wanted to help him they could spend their money in town, at the Inn, the taverns, and the Red Devil Emporium. Then he burst into a favorite dwarven song, Gold, Gold , Gold, Gold. When asked, Grogloc said he had not heard of Mr. BB but he knew AA and CC, two dwarves who ran the Red Devil Emporium. The party visited The Red Devil Emporium to find out about Mr. BB and to shop. AA and CC were behind the counter. They said they never heard of Mr. BB. Everybody shopped for stuff including a kettle because the Oracle had said Kettle Down. Elder Yawn bought some pipeweed from Hill Shire. They also wanted some herbs and potions the emporium didn't have. So AA and CC sent them to the herbalist. At the Golden Elk Herbalist they met Gladiola, a human healing witch. She sold Elderly Yawn some Pineapple Sticchi Icchi (the good stuff). And she sold Listenherebub a slightly larger bag of Gladiola's Special Blend recommended for anxiety. When Gladiola heard them talking about The Queen Of Desperation she went and got a small golden (colored) statue from her trinkets shelf and sold it to Thistle, the elf. The Ghost Of The Oracle spoke of light under but not over and she also mentioned beds so they thought they might need to check under the beds at the Inn. The herbalist sent them on to Dolphin Inn, a small establishment with rooms, a restaurant, and a larger function room. The innkeep doubled his income by letting monsters sleep under the beds with people sleeping on top. In front of the Dolphin Inn was a fountain with pennies in the pool and a sculpture of a dolphin dancing on it's tail and spraying water straight up into the air. The Oracle had said, "Left in the water fountain" and Shuba, the halfling dancer couldn't find anything left in the pond except pennies so she climbed right in to neck deep water (for a small halfling) and started dancing while circling left. The mayor and other townsfolk came out and clapped and threw pennies into the pond. As she spun faster the dolphin blew harder and soon everyone was soaking wet. They went into the Inn and Thokk started to check under the beds and found a giant shrew comfortably sleeping. After carefully replacing the bed he was intercepted by YoYo Longstring, the inn manager, who said they could only check rooms that were vacant of on the bed customers. In the 4 remaining vacant rooms he found a Bugbear, a Corpse Crawler, a Wolf, and a Cobra. Shuba, the Tiny Dancer, danced with the Bugbear and the Cobra. The Cobra climbed out of his basket so high that he hit his head on the ceiling and knocked himself out. Since his basket was about the same size as the kettle they bought from the emporium they transferred the cobra to the kettle and Shuba strapped it to her backpack. By now, it was getting late and everyone was ready to party. They rented the function room and everybody came. The mayor, Grokloc, AA and CC, Gladiola, The wolf, Little Red Riding Hood, the Bugbear, the March Hare, and the Cobra in his kettle. Even the corpse crawler shuffled in and scooted under the drinks table with the dead sailors (empty beer bottles). They all ate pie and had a big old time drinking ale and smoking pipeweed. In fact Listenherebub got so relaxed that he climbed right out of his chest of drawers and showed off his muscles wearing only body building shorts. He said he didn't need more clothes while he was in the chest of drawers. --- I don't want to talk about politics. I want to talk about Avatar The Last Airbender. -MH --- https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Christmas_Idears.txt 2024-04-25 04:44 PM Posted on 2024-04-25 Christmas Idears Divine Absurdities Write down the things that made you happy, smile, laugh, cry or feel sad . Put it in the jar. I checked the jar and ... (-LH) Jesus Christ Super Star The trip Ip man Mary & Max Clerks The Good, The Bad, & The Weird Luther Gonzo Snatch Parks & Rec What Dreams May Come Branson The Secret Of KeVs Titan A.E. The Men From Earth Reservoir Dogs Mad Men Red State Warrior Burraku Oldboy Troll hunter Wristcutters A Love Story UHF Memento Breaking Bad Hobo with a Shotgun Being Human U.K. Cash back Mariel's Wedding TiMER also A D6 and a tiny red D20 in a bag A tiny blue d20 in another bag https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Costume_Safety.txt 2024-04-25 01:28 PM Posted on 2024-04-25 Costume Safety Trick-or-treating is a significant part of Halloween festivities, and for many kids the best part is having a terrific costume. For their parents, however, the right costume is not only one that suits the spirit of Halloween it's also one that is safe. According to American Academy of Pediatrics the top three causes of emergency room visits on Halloween are from collisions with cars, eye injuries from sharp objects and burns from flammable costumes. Here are some pointers for keeping your child safe: Trick-or-treat in groups with other parents if possible. Place reflective tape on costumes to make trick-or-treaters more visible as they walk from house to house. If possible incorporated the tape into the costume design. Flashlights also increase their visibility and a child carrying a flashlight in a dusky area is much more likely to be seen by drivers. Choose hats and face paints instead of masks. Masks can hamper a child's ability to to see cars and dangerous obstacles in their path. Ensure that costumes fit well. Costumes that are too long can pose a tripping hazard. It's also a good idea for them to wear comfortable, flat shoes that are easy to walk in. Remind them to walk on sidewalks and well-lit paths and not to dart out into the street to run to another home. If props are on the list for creating the perfect costume choose soft, flexible styles whenever possible. Make sure props, such as swords, are not sharp or too long. Costumes and accessories made with flame-resistant materials are preferable. Remind children that lit candles and bonfires are dangerous and to avoid them while they make their rounds or attend outdoor activities. Originally published in The Times Dispatch, October, 2015 https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Halloween_History.txt 2024-04-25 01:16 PM Posted on 2024-04-25 Halloween History October 31st is nearly here, and soon the streets will be filled with children eager to get their share of the free-flowing candy and other prizes handed out across the country. Year after year, trick-or-treaters dress up and take pail in hand to walk from house to house demanding a treat from those who answer the door. But have you ever wondered where this and other traditions began? Halloween evolved from ancient Celtic festivals, such as Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the dawn of winter. Celts were no longer spending long days in the pastures, and so they gathered in their homes to tell stories and wait out the winter. As Christianity spread, Halloween became intertwined with a feast day dedicated to the saints and deceased loved ones. “All Hallows Eve,” eventually got shortened to “Hallowe'en,” and then Halloween. Though certain parts of Halloween history are common knowledge, there are interesting facts about this holiday that are less widely known. Halloween customs are actually a blend of Celtic, Catholic, and ancient Roman traditions. It is thought that the earliest celebrations date back to roughly 800 to 600 BC, with observances of the harvest season and nature before the arrival of winter. The Celtic festival of Samhain was a major influence on modern day Halloween. On October 31, Celts thought the door to the underworld was opened and could let out spirits. Feasts were held and place-settings were left for deceased relatives, to return home for a visit. In addition to friendly spirits, mean spirits also could cross over and bonfires were lit to ward off these spirits. Extra candles would also be used in homes and churches to keep evil away. The custom of wearing costumes also has its roots in keeping evil spirits at bay. Costumes and masks were worn to confuse bad spirits and frighten them so that they could not bring misfortune to their village. People wore masks and ventured out after dark so that envious ghosts who were cold would not recognize them as residents of warm and inviting homes. Even trick-or-treating may have blended origins. Druids believed the dead would play tricks on mankind during Samhain, causing destruction and panic. To appease the spirits, people would give the dead food and other treats. The early Christian custom called “souling” can be linked to Halloween as well. It was a day when they would go door-to-door begging for soul cakes, which were square pieces of bread with currants. The more cakes a person received, the more prayers he or she would promise for the dead relatives of the cake donors. Ireland is believed by many to be the birthplace of the jack-o'-lantern. The first jack-o'-lanterns were made from turnips and beets and were supposedly carried by those walking at night to frighten away evil spirits. It wasn't until Halloween was brought to North America that pumpkins were used for creating the jack-o'-lantern. Pumpkins are now carved and displayed as Halloween decorations. Originally published in The Times Dispatch, October, 2015 https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Halloween_Party.txt 2024-04-25 01:11 PM Posted on 2024-04-25 Halloween Party Halloween is a special day that delights children of all ages and helps adults feel like kids at heart. The fun doesn't have to be limited to trick-or-treating, revelers can also enjoy a Halloween party in addition to or instead of the annual candy trek. If hosting a Halloween party sounds like the best option start by making a guest list. Parties that include children should be the right balance between scary and fun. While you may want to have a certain amount of spookiness make sure you don't send young guests home with nightmares. Reserve gruesome decorations and details for adult-only parties. Halloween parties do not necessarily need to be ghoulish. Try a glittery gala masquerade party or decorate exclusively in orange and black. Classically eerie parties may feature ravens and crows, or they can be subtlety spooky with red candles and heavy curtains. For many people dressing up for Halloween is the high point of the celebration. Some even pick out their costumes months in advance. Still, not everyone feels comfortable donning a costume. Make allowances for those guests and don't make costumes mandatory. Another way to offer your guests a spontaneous way to join the holiday fun is to provide a Halloween disguise table full of accessories that anyone can borrow and use to alter their appearance. Goofy glasses, strange hats, adhesive mustaches or masks can be fun. If someone doesn't feel comfortable dressing in full costume, he or she may be more apt to pop on an over-the-top hat or put on a spinning bow tie. Food is a key element of any party and Halloween offers the perfect opportunity to serve up some gruesome cuisine. Candy is the central theme of Halloween and it can play a part in your party decor. Set up a candy bar full of appropriately hued candies of all shapes and sizes. Put them on display in clear glass or plastic canisters with small bowls for those who want to sample some . Get creative with Halloween cuisine, crafting foods into shapes or symbols that reflect the holiday mood. Cookie cutters can turn sandwiches, desserts, biscuits, and many other foods into bats, jack-o-'lanterns, ghosts, witches and other fun shapes. Halloween is a great time to have fun with all the spooky things you can conjure up. Foods can be made more spooky simply by renaming them or presenting them in interesting containers. Serve up deviled eyeballs by decorating deviled eggs with pimento strips and sliced olives to turn them into bloodshot eyes. A good witch's brew can be made from white grape juice and ginger ale tinted green. Serve the punch out of a new fish bowl with gummy creatures floating in the liquid. Clean jugs or bottles can be used to serve beverages labeled as magic potions. Originally published in The Times Dispatch, October, 2015 https://deltaboogie.net/words/permalink.php?fname=Halloween_Treats.txt 2024-04-25 01:07 PM Posted on 2024-04-25 Halloween treats Halloween is known for its culinary delights, particularly the sweet treats that are served at parties or handed out to trick-or-treaters. Chocolate treats abound at Halloween. Chocolate has been popular for centuries. Cocoa beans were harvested by ancient Olmec Indians as far back as 1500 B.C. Original uses for cocoa beans were in bitter drinks, similar to coffee. It wasn't until sometime around the 16th century that sugar and cream were added to the bitter cocoa beans to create the first chocolate similar to what we know today. Candied apples are usually dipped in toffee or caramel. Other apples may be dipped in a melted sugar coating, similar to the recipe used for lollipops and pulled-sugar treats. It's believed candied apples were created in 1908, when they were meant to be a display item to entice customers into candy shops. Candied apples are popular in the fall when apples are abundant. It also helps that the weather is less humid allowing the layer of candy surrounding the apple to set better and hold it's shape. Candy corn is one of those treats that has become synonymous with Halloween. Created in the 1880s by George Renninger of the Philadelphia-based Wunderle Candy Company the candy was created to look like kernels of corn, however, each candy kernel is three times larger than a real kernel. The can was originally called Chicken Feed. Soul cakes were a treat commonly found in Britain and Ireland during the Halloween holiday. These cakes were baked with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and raisins. The tradition has been kept alive and today's bakers make these biscuit-like cakes as fall treats. Pumpkin pie makes its debut in the fall when most pumpkins are ripe for the picking. Pumpkins became popular for cooking in England in the 17th century and were likely brought over to America by the pilgrims. Early pumpkin pies were savory and full of spices. Today's pies are more sweet but still feature the familiar flavors of the past, including nutmeg and cloves. Pumpkin pie is often enjoyed around Halloween, but usually doesn't takes center stage during Thanksgiving celebrations. Originally published in The Times Dispatch, October, 2015